Morley Read / Slow motion clip of a queen termite (Isoptera) in chamber, with workers gathering liquid containing pheromones exuded from the queen's rear end, Ecuador. (non-ex)

Morley Read / Queen Termite (Isoptera) tended by workers in nest chamber, Napo Province, Ecuadorian Amazon. (non-ex)

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen standing surrounded by workers, Kiel, Germany, May.

Solvin Zankl / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers looking after queen cells, Kiel, Germany

Kim Taylor / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) queen approaching nest. Surrey, England, May

Phil Savoie / Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen flying to Oriental poppy flower (Papaver orientale) with pollen baskets, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. July.

Phil Savoie / Early bumblebee (Bombus partorum) queen flying to Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. June.

Phil Savoie / Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), queen, feeding on Chive (Allium schoenoprasum), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. March

Nigel Cattlin / Pharoahs ant (Monomorium pharaonis) colony on timber with workers, queen and larvae.

Nigel Cattlin / Pharoahs ant (Monomorium pharaonis) colony on timber with workers, queen and larvae.

Nigel Cattlin / Pharoahs ant (Monomorium pharaonis) colony on timber with queens, workers, winged adults, eggs and pupae.

Heather Angel / Bumblebee (Bombus sp) queen feeding on Crocus (Crocus korolkowii), covered in pollen. Ansob Pass, Tajikistan. April.